George Libarian at the 2024 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship (JJIF) in Crete, Greece
Introduction
George Libarian was born in Canada and raised in Southeast Michigan, USA. His family immigrated from the Middle East. At the age of six, his passion for martial arts began. This would become a life journey. Currently, George is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach at the Cavalo Martial Arts Academy in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. He is an active competitor in the Master’s divisions of JJIF and IBJJF, and plans to compete in the ADCC in the near future.
FightMatrix: Where did you grow up? What was your childhood like?
George Libarian: I was born in Canada but grew up in Southeast Michigan; having lived in Livonia, Farmington Hills, and the city of Detroit.
My childhood was far from extraordinary, but my parents were exceptional. They did the best they could with what they had, and I love them dearly for all the sacrifices they made to start anew in a different country. They had already faced the challenges of immigrating from the Middle East to Canada. Immersing myself in an American high school was a unique experience in itself. Although I didn’t fully appreciate my time at Walled Lake Western, I met some wonderful people and often find myself reminiscing about life at Western.
FM: Who or what helped to get you interested in martial arts?
GL: My passion for martial arts started when I was just six years old, inspired by legends like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. As I grew older, my admiration extended to icons such as Chuck Norris and Van Damme. By high school, my friends and I dedicated ourselves to daily training sessions, despite having little formal background in any particular style. Those underground days laid the foundation for my unwavering ambition to always stay involved with martial arts and exercise in one form or another.
FM: Who is your favorite martial artist of all time?
GL: This question is challenging because it’s difficult to narrow down my choice to a single all-time favorite. So many are on my list and for varied reasons.
1- Bruce Lee: Opened my mind to the idea of not just training in one discipline but embracing all styles.
2- Alistair Overeem: His performance at the K-1 World Grand Prix Championship was beyond anything I have ever seen done before.
3- Gordon Ryan: The GOAT (greatest of all time) in the world of No-Gi grappling.
4- Georges St-Pierre: Canadian and a UFC legend!
5- Jordan Burroughs: Six-time world champion. One of the best freestyle wrestlers of all time.
List goes on…
FM: What was resonating in your mind while you were representing Canada, for the Jiu Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) in 2024, in Crete, Greece?
GL: Leading up to the event, I had little to no thoughts about the upcoming JJIF competition. It wasn’t until the night before that it started to feel real. “Do I belong here?” “What if I fail in front of the world?” “Did I do everything, and more, to prepare for the competition?” I was representing my home country, my family, and my friends. It felt like everything was on the line. In a local event, you can train hard, compete, and not be deeply affected by the outcome. But at Worlds… there was no room for mistakes, no time to doubt. You have to go out there and perform as if your life depended on it! Making it to the podium at the end of the day was an exhilarating feeling. “I belong here.” “Win or lose, I stepped on the mat and gave it everything I had.” “I worked hard for this and have learned a great deal.”
JJIF Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, 2024 in Crete, Greece
FM: Is 2024 the first year that you competed in the JJIF? Do you intend on doing more tournaments? Please elaborate…
GL: In 2024, I had my first experience competing in the JJIF organization. Despite having opportunities in the past, I had never taken advantage of them until last year. I’m gearing up to compete at the Canadian Nationals in 2025, hoping to make the team once again. The JJIF 2025 Worlds will be held in Thailand, and I’ve already begun packing my bags.
Last year, I also branched out into another international organization, International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). I competed in my first IBJJF tournament in Vegas this past August, which was a wonderful experience. I highly recommend for any novice to fly out to the event and spectate.
In 2025, my goal is to participate in more international competitions. I plan to take part in events such as the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC), various IBJJF tournaments held around the globe, and more local events in Canada and the USA.
FM: How long have you been practicing martial arts? Have you tried any other martial arts, aside from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)?
GL: I’ve been training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2011 and fell in love with the art from day one, never looking back. Throughout my life, I’ve studied Karate, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai under various instructors, although short period of time or less commitment compared to BJJ. Currently, I’m taking up Vale-Tudo (a raw form of MMA) alongside BJJ and getting back into Muay Thai.
FM: From what I understand, a majority of your immediate family also practices martial arts. Was this something you heavily instilled in them? Have you seen the benefits of martial arts via your family?
GL: In my opinion, playing a sport is a crucial part of child development. Winning is great but learning to overcome a loss is even better. As a parent, my goal was to instill a healthy balance between academics, sports, and family time. While my children were not required to study martial arts, they were encouraged to try different sports. When my sons picked up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ), I enthusiastically shared the benefits with my wife and daughter. It took many years of convincing, but they both eventually decided to try BJJ/Muay Thai. Currently, my oldest child does not train as she is away at university.
I’ve witnessed the vast benefits of martial arts, including increased confidence, unbreakable bonds formed with teammates, and the obvious physical health benefits. The desire to improve in the art leads to becoming a better person, both physically and mentally.
2024 Ontario Open International Jiu-Jitsu Championship
FM: You are a coach at Cavalo Martial Arts Academy. What is your favorite reward that you receive for coaching BJJ to others?
GL: I’ve been teaching for over three years now, and I still love every moment of it. The greatest joys I’ve experienced as a coach are twofold: first, witnessing the students’ abilities evolve over time, and second, the moment when a lesson finally resonates with a student. That eureka moment is by far the most rewarding experience I’ve had as a coach.
Conclusion
For George Libarian, 2024 was an exciting year. This was when he initially began competing in the JJIF organization. It was located in Crete, Greece. The same year in August, for the first time he joined the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). George’s tournament was in Las Vegas, Nevada.
As Mr. Libarian had stated, there are positive mental and physical health benefits of practicing Martial Arts. Some of the benefits are as follows: a surge in confidence, how to work with a team, training helps build muscle mass which protects your structural system, you will be more physically fit, and of course you will be healthier overall. If you follow Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, it states that first and foremost, mental health must be up to par prior to working on your physical needs. Mr. Libarian is being mindful of his needs and facing them head on, with prevention of the decline of his wellness through being a martial arts practitioner.
He has practiced various martial arts, including Karate, BJJ, and Muay Thai. George will now begin to practice Vale-Tudo. This is essentially an old Brazilian term for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). George Libarian’s immediate family also practices various martial arts. He purposely incorporated sports, academics, and important values in his family’s life. I believe this is a good system to utilize. Doing martial arts will make you stronger mentally and physically.
MMA & Boxing Columnist | Business Development Consultant
I have been a fan and avid viewer of all combat sports for over 20 years. I was once a Judoka, which is what eventually piqued my interest in Mixed Martial Arts.
For 25 years I’ve worked in healthcare, and now am trying to make something that was a hobby, into a full-time endeavor.
Good done i hope we could see your interview in youtube